First of all; don't create art to make it go in a certain category - if you feel the need to reach outside the rules, do so - but please don't try to sneak it in. This is a group for vector and vexels, if your piece isn't one, we won't upload it to the gallery - it isn't because your piece isn't "worthy" or "good enough" or because we want to punish you

Some of you might have gotten a message on your submissions where one of us asks you to explain a certain part of your piece or what program(s) you used. We hope to stop doing that - we would rather be able to accept all the submissions and count on you guys to know what your piece is.

So here it is - the steps to figuring out where your piece goes (in our gallery, but also when you upload it to dA and need to choose a category)

What program did you use?

If you are using a program capable of making vector-layers and resizing these infinit, your work is a vector so far. If you merge the vector-layers (or save the image making it raster) and then apply affects to the rastered layers your piece is no longer a vector. Popular programs capable of true vector: Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw, Flash, Inkscape and Photoshop

If you are using a program capable of making blocks of colour with a marquee or a pentool, where the blocks are raster, meaning that they can't be resized - your work is a vexel so far.Popular programs cabable of making blocks of color:Photoshop, Gimp, Painter

What tools are you using?

If you are using the pentool to make vector layers or shapelayers that can be resized infinite your work is vector

If you are using the pentool or the marquee to make raster layers that can't be resized infinite your work is a vexel

If you are using the brushtool to paint blocks of colour your work isn't vector or vexel

What effects/filters are you using?

If you are using effects/filters (in a program capable of true vector) that won't resize along with the vector layers your work isn't a vector. (these effects are called live effects (blur, feather, glow and dropshadow are popular liveeffects) and are acceptable as vector on dA)

If you are using inner glow, outer glow or drop shadow you work isn't a vexel.

If you are using any filter in photoshop (or other rasterbased programs) your work isn't a vector or a vexel

what other raster elements are you using?

if you are using any raster elements (except live effects) you work isn't a vector

Textures, outerglows and dropshadows are not allowed in vexels

Photograph backgrounds are not allowed. (This would be mixed media, as you are mixing both the medium of vexel or vector with the medium of photography)Photo elements (this includes photo-textures) and photos overlayed over your finished product are not allowed (ex: if you are doing a portrait over a photo and leave the lips to "shine" through or simply put the lips on top of your work)

Brushes allowed when doing ex. hair (Stroke path.) Brushes should not be the main part of the piece. If the piece contains more brushes than hand-rendered shapes, it would no longer be considered vexel.Soft, feathered or photo brushes are not allowed.

So what is it? Vexel, vector or mixed media?

If your work contains no raster elements and no effects that can't be resized along with your work your work is a vector

If your work contains vector-layers with rasterelements that aren't allowed your work isn't a vector or a vexel, but goes to mixed media.

If your work contains raster layers with blocks of colour made with the allowed tools your work is a vexel

If your work contains vector-layers with ANY rasterelements your work isn't a vexel or a vector

If your work contains raster layers with blocks of colour made with the allowed tools and raster elements that aren't allowed your work isn't a vexel or vector, but goes to mixed media

If your work contains raster layers with blocks of colour made with the tools that aren't allowed it isn't a vexel or vector

Help us promote vexels and vectors by reading and abiding these rules.

When in doubt: contact us!We don't mind helping, what we do mind is having to ask the same questions over and over again. If we didn't have to do that we would have a lot more time to do fun projects to inspire and promote you!You can either send the group a note with a link to the piece your are wondering about or leave a comment in this journal.

"But I only added a small texture or a brushstroke afterwards"Your work goes to mixed media category on deviantArt but in vector-artists we have a special folder for mixed media vectors and vexels, it's called vections and we'd love to have your work there

Anything we missed or are the rules unclear in anyway? Help out - leave a comment!

Vectors are done in programs such as Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Inkscape, Flash, Freehand (and others). Most tools/filters within those programs count as vector, although with Illustrator there are some 'Photoshop Filters' that count as raster. Vectors can also be done in Photoshop or in any program that allows you to keep layers as vector layers. As long as your finished piece is infinitely scalable without loss of clarity to any part of it, then your work is Vector.

Vexels are done in a pixel based program, but use basically the same tools as Vector...marquee tools, shape tools, pen tool, but the layers are rasterised and are not infinitely scalable, but have the same 'look' as Vectors. Brushwork in a pixel based program are not allowed in Vexels.

Vections are either Vectors or Vexels that have small amounts of raster elements added to them. We like to keep Vections to around 30% Raster/70% Vector/Vexel. Anything over that doesn't belong in our group and would be better suited to a group designed for Digital Paintings, etc.

If you're ever in doubt as to where one of your pieces might belong, just note us with a link to the piece and we'll be happy to help

I agree, the rules aren't too clear. I'm new to illustrator too, I created both my submissions in illustrator then simply copied them into photoshop to save as a PNG file for internet use. Does that mean they're no longer vector and are now vexel's. By reading the first paragraph I think this is so, in that case what type of file should I save it as in Illustrator before submitting.

I just got confused about my artwork if it is a vector or a vexel - Vexel Portrait

I'm just a newbie in vector and vexel art.I read the journal but still got confused, sorry. hehehe.. I used two applications which are Illustrator and Photoshop. I used Illustrator for the face, arms, shirt, etc except for the hair. I used photoshop in creating the hair and did some blur effect and levels filter for final retouch. I wonder where my artwork falls, vector, vexel or mixed media? hehehe.. Hoping for your response because I really wanted to know. Thank you very much!

I agree, the rules aren't too clear. I'm new to illustrator too, I created both my submissions in illustrator then simply copied them into photoshop to save as a PNG file for internet use. Does that mean they're no longer vector and are now vexel's. By reading the first paragraph I think this is so, in that case what type of file should I save it as in Illustrator before submitting.

Hmmmmm sounds to complex! Just 2 question for me (if you have the time). Is Infinite Design for android a vector program and if I combine the work with SketchBook pro will it Nullify the Vector work...?

For many of my pieces I have utilized Vectors for my line art (pen tool in illustrator) but have coloured it in something like Photoshop using the brush tool and using various effects and filters on the colour. Would something of this nature be considered a Vection??

You said "If you are using effects/filters (in a program capable of true vector) that won't resize along with the vector layers your work isn't a vector. (these effects are called live effects (blur, feather, glow and dropshadow are popular liveeffects) and are acceptable as vector on dA)" -- so does that mean using live effects is acceptable as vector on dA, but not acceptable as vector in this group?

But then there's "if you are using any raster elements (except live effects) you work isn't a vector" -- so does that mean if the only effects used is live effects, then it is considered as vector in this group? (>_<；)

Case(s) in point:1) I used a vector-based program (Inkscape/Illustrator) for everything but added live effects (drop shadows, outer glows) within the program.2) Same as above, but after exporting it, I added live effects (outer glow) again in Photoshop – which cannot be resized.

Can I submit those works to this group? If so, which should I submit to which folder?

So sorry for the long comment and if I sound stupid for asking... but I'm really confused. (T^T) I hope you understand my question haha.

Thanks for accepting me! I mainly work with Illustrator, using pen tool, gradients and live effects as drop shadow, outer glow and feather... only to be sure: my works are they considered as vectors?And now where's my hug?

Will works disqualify as vector if I decide to watermark a vector-graphic using raster elements? And what if that's done using blue channel only (rendering watermarks nearly invisible unless red and green are disabled)?

Reason for asking being vector-graphics which get a deviantArt watermark applied still qualify as vector (I'm exploring possibilities and limitations of using my own).I've seen groups accept pictures of traditional artwork with minor enhancements like sharpening and contrast (since digital cameras basically enhance all ready) to traditional artwork; but categorise it as digital artwork if new effects (even minor) are applied. I would like to know where you draw the line.

I did every thing on Illustrator. Just the background of the artwork was created in Photoshop, with gradient and brush tools, saved as a separate image and then placed behind the artwork in Illustrator.

I'm pretty sure most of my work would be considered mixed media but I want to be sure. I start with drawing vectors but then as a final touch, I bring the finished piece into Photoshop and add textures like paper. That would be considered mixed media?

so if you're using the pen tool and pencil tool with both slight gradients and slight feathering, what would that be considered?i apologize for having to ask, i'm just slightly confused!thanks for your time.

I use CorelDraw, and am only slightly familiar with the Illustrator terms you're using here. Could I get a translation? Or better yet, a rundown on which tools in CorelDraw you consider "vector" and which you don't?

DomiSM and I seem to be having a bit of miscommunication. So I'll come back here with a specific question: Are transparent fills vector, vexel, or other? In particular, what do uniform transparency, and fountain ("gradient" in Illustrator-speak) transparency count as?

a gradient and transparent shape are vector in both vector programs and raster (like photoshop). however "transparencies" that are say... a photo texture or something imported to the program are raster. so it really depends on what kind of transparency you are talking about. if you just have a circle shape that you are turning into a gradient to use as a shadow - vector. if you have a paper texture you are using to give skin texture - raster.

So, if I make an images in illustrator, combine them in photoshop, then it's not a vector image anymore? Or, if I make a vector image in illustrator and save it as a jpeg in photoshop so I can upload it to the web, it's not a vector image anymore? For some reason, my interpretation of your rules seems to dictate that there can be no vector images in this group, as one has to rastarise an image in order to upload it, which has to be wrong. As there are plenty of images here.

I suppose it depends on what you're doing in photoshop. If you're painting or adding a raster texture then yes, definitely mixed media. Aside from the fact that Illustrator has almost all the same live effects and just about everything can be replicated with the live trace feature... one should be able to do just about everything in illustrator.We're actually generally going by the theory of scalability... each and every one of the images could be blown up to 1200dpi or higher without losing its integrity. However, once you start adding in raster elements then you get into mixed media. Also, I doubt very much that anyone wants to upload their vector/vexel files to the site unless they are offering them as an application resource. We are following deviantArt's rules in regards to vector and vexel. If you have an issue you can message ^DomiSM about it and she can fill you in on the why's and how's. Also, I highly recommend using PNG files over JPEG.

so, after reading this, i'm still confused. i have a piece that is vector, created in cs4 with vector tools, text, gradient fills and compound objects. all vector so far, but also contains live effect dropshadow.

is dropshadow considered vector in this group or not? does 'acceptable as vector on da' mean acceptable as vector in this group? i read 'work contains no raster elements and no effects that can't be resized along with your work your work is a vector' as meaning live effect dropshadow is ok.

You Guys are damned FREAKS... there are more chances to win the lottery than having my AWESOME art submitted to your group! I mean, this is all very interesting, but WHO DOES THE HELL REALLY CARE?!!? I just think you're making fun *BORING* so SUCK MY SOCK!!And yeah, you can hide this but you can't hide that you're much more annoying than my great great granny

I use Inkscape too, and I've always worry about that sometimes. Because I read somewhere that Inkscape filters are raster layers that are recalculated when resized and are overlaid onto the original shape or fill.

With that said, as it says above they are acceptable, if you declare them in your artist comments.

If you want to want to keep the images in 100% vector, copy the layer and apply the filters on the copies, when you are happy, overlay the originals onto of the each filter layer and try to copy the filter layers using normal vector tools, hope this helps.